A LOCAL rugby league club will soon benefit from a welcomed Federal Government initiative after being confirmed as one of a number of recipients to gain a grant that has key aims to increase energy efficiency and reduce emissions.

In the coming weeks Mossman/Port Douglas rugby league club will receive their timely grant as part of the Powering Communities Program.

The grant will ultimately help the Sharks reduce future power bills and its carbon emissions footprint while at the same time support the local job market.

“We’re delighted to have secured the grant,” Sharks president Jason Fasano told Newsport.

“Under the grant we’ve applied for new lighting throughout our clubhouse, plus air conditioning systems.

“So we’ll use the grant to modernise things around the club and get things up to speed a bit.”

Help to lower energy costs

Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch said the grants will provide wide ranging benefits.

“Energy bills are often one of the biggest overheads for volunteer organisations and these grants will be a welcome boost,” Mr Entsch explained.

“It is very pleasing to see grassroots organisations, like the Sharks, and those others across the region receive funding under this highly-successful program.

“The grants will be used for projects such as installing LED lighting, installing solar systems and replacing existing air conditioning with more efficient systems.”

Federal Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister Angus Taylor said lowering the energy costs of community groups would have positive effects both locally and nationally.

“This funding of between $5,000 and $12,000 to community groups from all the 151 federal electorates of Australia will allow them to spend more on their essential activities,” Mr Taylor said.

“At the same time as these groups are providing increased assistance to their local communities, they will be playing a part in our national efforts to reduce emissions.

Local jobs created

“Local jobs will be created through the energy-efficiency measures undertaken by the successful funding applicants under the program.

“These include installing solar panels or a battery, replacing lighting with LEDs, conducting an energy audit and upgrading air conditioners, hot water systems or a refrigerator with more efficient models.”

The Federal Government confirmed Cairns Basketball, Cairns Pirates Touch Football Association, Edge Hill/Whitfield Progress Association, the Gungarde Community Centre Aboriginal Corporation in Cooktown and Trinity Beach’s Community kindergarten also received similar grants.